Up to 50% of patient's with voice disorders have simultaneously symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR). Therefore it is of the utmost importance to raise the awareness regarding the symptoms and pathogenesis of LPR and it's relation to voice disorders. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of laryngopharyngeal reflux on patient's quality of voice and find possible relations between subjective evaluation of voice and clinical findings.
We conducted a retsrospective cohort study of estonian and russian speaking adult patients. The study group consisted of 50 adult patients with the history, subjective complaints (Reflux Finding Score RFS> 7) and objective findings (Reflux Symptom Index RSI> 13) of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. The control group consisted of demographically similar 50 adult patients with no complaints and clinical finding of reflux disease.
In all patients endoscopic laryngeal evaluation (RFS), acoustic voice analysis (Multi-Dimensional Voice Program MDVP) and perceptual evaluation of voice (GRBAS) were performed, subjective evaluation of voice (Voice Handicap Index VHI) and LFR complaints (Reflux Symptom Index RSI) obtained.
Results showed that reflux related laryngeal changes can cause both subjective and in some measured parameters objective voice changes. Partial correlation was found between subjective complaints and clinical findings. Statistically significant correlation was found between patients' subjective and perceptual voice evaluation. In addition correlation was found between subjective reflux complaints and acoustic analysis.
In conclusion we can say, that patient's subjective complaints, analysis of acoustic voice parameters and perceptual evaluation may refer to laryngopharyngeal reflux.
